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 I AM A 3RD YEAR LPN AND STRONGLY THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK FOR MY RN I WANT TO TAKE ONLINE COURSES BECAUSE I HAVE TO WORK THREE KIDS HUBBY, I AM TERRIFIED ABOUT THE CLINICALS, CAN ANYONE PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INSIGHT ARE THE CLINICALS MANDATORY ?

I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTOOD ME SAP OF COURSE I KNOW CLINICALS HAVE TO BE IN PERSON , ARE YOU KIDDING ME JUST WONDERING IF I COULD GET SOME OPINIONS ON NURSES THAT HAVE DONE ON-LINE NURSING AND THEIR EXP. FROM CLINICALS

Hi, I did my RN online and my clinicals were in Georgia (I live in NC). It was difficult, but do-able. The clinical were not like regular clinicals. they were actually a test. Since the students there were already either EMT, Paramedicas, LPN, etc, you were expected to already know the basics. So, you received 3 patients, (1) peds and (2) adult. With each patient you were given a list of assessments that you were tested on. You were expected to do a care plan prior to seeing the patient and a post assessment/documentation to evaluate how effective your plan of care was. We also had to preform IM injects, IV drip rate calc. without the machine, sterile drg change, and something else that I cannot remember off the top of my head right now. Let me know if you need any help. I will be glad to help you if I can.

I went through Excelsior College. There were about 8 to 10 in my clinical rotation. As for how bad it was, well, it was stressful. I am a perfectionist, so I think I made things harder on myself than needed to be. They are tough, but not impossible to pass!

Well, actually once you are eligible for the clinical at Excelsior, they provide a 5 in binder filled with everything that they could ask you and how THEY want it done.You are not allowed to take the book with you to the clincials, but as long as you basically memorize it you will do fine. They can ask you anything from  preforming a bed bath to doing a neurological assessment. On each patient, you were asked to do at least 5 things. Each of mine included a med pass and respiratory assessment as well as other things.

BETH HOW WAS THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNED A LOT ON-LINE? GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CLINICALS TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER NURSES HAD TO SAY

Hello everyone!  I am just getting started with Excelsior College and am wondering if anyone else had trouble with their Sociology? I just can't seem to get myself interested in the stuff.  I have a friend who went to take the test and failed so now she has to wait another six months to retest.  WHAT A  DRAG!!!  I sent off for my Anatomy and Physiology book and am finding that very interesting.  I still have to take Microbiology before I can take any nursing courses.  Does anyone have any advice on studying techniques???

I am an LPN in my last year of an LPN to RN, BSN transition program.  I work 40 hours a week - go to school 4 hours in the evening 1 night a week - and then have 12 hour clinicals every Saturday.  We go to school all year around - the school is about $40,000 and it is 3 1/2 years long - it has SUCKED!   I have a friend, whose husband was doing an online program - in 2002 (before I even started LPN school) he started the online RN program - to date - he still hasn't been able to finish it because he has had so many problems with it.  I'll be so happy to be done in 8 months!

Congrats on passing CPNE I am scared to death to even think about it

I am thinking of enrolling in and online LPN-RN program and have the same concerns regarding the clinical aspect.  Is the facility assigned to you easily accessible (considering the work and home schedule you have to juggle through) or you don't get to choose that?  Or do you go looking for your own clinical site, which I believe is not feasible.  And what about the fact that you're doing it online?  Are you missing anything?

Thanks

Clinicals are mandatory.  I would suggest you look into the actual school you want to go to.  NOT RUE or those other companies.  Find out what their program entails and the cost.  I know excelsior offers a workshop on how to pass the clinical- but it costs extra.

I am an LPN taking my last Excelsior exam today (yahoo!)  and preparing for application to do my CPNE.  I have worked for the last 10 years in outpt drug rehab; needless to say I have to brush up on sterile wound care, IM inject, etc.  Does anyone have any recent personal experience with the Excelsior clinical?  I plan to do at least one workshop, the online conferences, basically everything and anything I can do to refresh and pass the first time.  Also, there is a lot of chatter re: testing sites...like avoid NY, go south or Wisconsin for your best experience and likelihood at first time success.  Any feedback from anyone is appreciated!